Connector

ABSTRACT

It is aimed to provide a connector capable of being simplified in configuration. A connector ( 10 ) includes a housing ( 20 ) configured to be fit to hold a mating housing ( 61 ) by a resiliently deflectable lock arm ( 40 ), and a detecting member ( 50 ) configured such that a movement from a standby position to a detection position is restricted in a state where the housing ( 20 ) and the mating housing ( 61 ) are not properly connected and a movement to the detection position is allowed in a properly connected state of the housing ( 20 ) and the mating housing ( 61 ). The lock arm ( 40 ) includes stopper ( 44 ) configured to stop the detecting member ( 50 ) in contact therewith in the properly connected state. The housing ( 20 ) includes a covering wall ( 35 ) with which the stoppers ( 44 ) come into contact in a deflecting direction of the lock arm ( 40 ).

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a connector.

Related Art

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-215985 discloses aconnection detection connector with a detecting member for detectingwhether or not a connector housing is connected properly to a matingconnector. The connector housing is formed with a lock arm to beresiliently deflected to lock the mating connector and with an archedrestricting wall outside the lock arm. The lock arm is prevented frombeing deformed excessively by contact the restricting wall when beingdeflected while the connectors are being connected.

The detecting member disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent PublicationNo. 2015-215985 is configured to restrict a movement toward the matingconnector from a detection position. For example, a wall extending in adirection perpendicular to a moving direction is provided on a rear endof the detecting member and is capable of interfering with the connectorhousing. However, this configuration requires the detecting member to beprovided with the wall and has a problem of being complicated. Even inthe case of restricting such a movement of the detecting member, aconnector having a simple configuration is required.

The invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aimsto provide a connector capable of being simplified in configuration.

SUMMARY

The invention is directed to a connector with a housing configured to befit to a mating housing. The housing has a resiliently deflectable lockarm to hold the housing and the mating housing together. The connectoralso has a detecting member configured such that a movement from astandby position to a detection position is restricted in a state wherethe housing and the mating housing are not connected properly and amovement to the detection position is allowed in a properly connectedstate of the housing and the mating housing. The lock arm includes astopper configured to stop the detecting member in contact therewith inthe properly connected state, and the housing includes a contactportion. The stopper contacts the contact portion in a deflectingdirection of the lock arm.

The lock arm includes the stopper configured to stop the detectingmember in contact therewith in the properly connected state. In thisway, the stopper can restrict a movement of the detecting member fromthe detection position by stopping the detecting member. Further, thehousing includes the contact portion that contacts the stopper in thedeflecting direction of the lock arm. In this way, the contact of thestopper with the contact portion prevents further deflection of the lockarm can. As just described, the connector has a function of restrictinga movement of the detecting member from the detection position and afunction of restricting excessive deflection of the lock arm. These twofunctions need not be performed by separate configurations. Therefore,the connector can be simplified.

The lock arm may have a releasing portion configured to releaseconnection of the housing and the mating housing. The stopper may beintegral to the releasing portion. Thus, the lock arm can be simplifiedby integrating the stopper and the releasing portion.

The stopper may be integral to the releasing portion on a free end sideof the lock arm. Accordingly, the free end of the lock arm can beprevented from being deflected and deformed with the stopper held incontact with the contact portion. Thus, excessive deflection of the lockarm can be prevented reliably.

The lock arm may have two of the stoppers and may be connected to thestoppers via the releasing portion. According to this configuration, thereleasing portion functions as a beam between the stoppers so that therigidity of the lock arm can be ensured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a mating connector isconnected to a connector of one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with a plan view in section of a front partof the connector when viewed obliquely from below.

FIG. 4 is a side view in section of a lock holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a detecting member.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the detecting member.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the detecting member.

FIG. 8 is a plan view in section showing an incompletely connected stateof the connector and the mating connector.

FIG. 9 is a plan view in section showing a state where the detectingmember is at a standby position with the connector and the matingconnector properly connected.

FIG. 10 is a plan view in section showing a state where the detectingmember is at a detection position with the connector and the matingconnector properly connected.

FIG. 11 is a side view in section showing a state where the detectingmember is at the standby position with respect to the lock holder.

FIG. 12 is a side view in section showing a state where the detectingmember is at the detection position with respect to the lock holder.

FIG. 13 is a plan view in section showing a state after a lock arm isdeflected and deformed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 13. Note that, in the following description, left and rightsides in FIGS. 8 to 13 are defined as front and rear sides concerning afront-rear direction. Upper and lower sides shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 and13 are defined as right and left sides concerning a lateral direction.Upper and lower sides shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are defined as upper andlower sides concerning a vertical direction.

A connector 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, is male connectorfor a wiring harness of an automotive vehicle and is connected to amating connector 60 constituted as a female connector. As shown in FIG.2, the connector 10 includes a housing 20, terminal fittings T1 (seeFIG. 8) and a detecting member 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 20 includes a housing body 21 and a lockholder 30. Note that a detailed configuration inside the housing body 21is not shown in FIG. 3. The housing body 21 is made of synthetic resinand includes a terminal accommodating portion (not shown) configured toaccommodate and hold the male terminal fittings T1 connected to endparts of unillustrated wires. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing body 21 isformed with locked portions 21A (only those on an upper side are shownin FIG. 2) to be locked by the lock holder 30 on both upper and lowersurfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lock holder 30 is assembled on the sideof an opening end part (front end part) of the housing body 21. The lockholder 30 is fit to hold a mating housing 61 (member constituting anouter shell of the mating connector 60) in a locked state by a lock arm40 to be described later locking the mating housing 61. The lock holder30 is made of synthetic resin and is a substantially rectangular tube.The lock holder 30 is formed with locking portions 30A for locking thelocked portions 21A of the housing body 21 on both upper and lowersurfaces (only those on the upper side are shown in FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock holder 30 includes a tubular portion31, a side wall 32, protection walls 34, a covering wall portion 35,first holding projections 37, second holding projections 38, supports 39and the lock arm 40. The tubular portion 31 is a substantiallyrectangular tube, and the side wall 32, the protection walls 34, thecovering wall 35, the first holding projections 37, the second holdingprojections 38 and the lock arm 40 are provided on one side (rightside). As shown in FIG. 2, a wall on the right side of the tubularportion 31 is constituted by the side wall 32. The side wall 32 projectsfarther vertically out than the other parts of the tubular portion 31.The side wall 32 is formed with an opening 33 open forward while leavingonly a rear end part in a vertically central region. The side wall 32 iscut at a location where the lock arm 40 is formed (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, two of the protection walls 34 extendsubstantially parallel to each other on both upper and lower ends of theside wall 32. The covering wall 35 is connected to the protection walls34 and covers the lock arm 40 from outside. The covering wall 35 is apart corresponding to a “contact portion” of the present invention andconfigured to come into contact with stoppers 44 to be described laterin a deflecting direction of the lock arm 40. The covering wall 35 isformed in a part excluding front end parts of the respective protectionwalls 34 in the front-rear direction. An opening 36 open rearward isformed in a rear end part of the covering wall 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first holding projection 37 is formed in acenter of the inner surface (surface facing the other protection wall34) of the protection wall 34 in the front-rear direction. The firstholding projection 37 is provided at a position laterally overlappingthe covering wall 35 (position covered by the covering wall 35) on theprotection wall 34. Each end of the first holding projection 37 in thefront-rear direction is tapered to gradually narrow a width in thefront-rear direction toward an inner side (toward the other protectionwall 34).

As shown in FIG. 4, the second holding projection 38 is provided behindthe first holding projection 37 on the inner surface (surface facing theother protection wall 34) of the protection wall 34. Each end part ofthe second holding projection 38 in the front-rear direction is inclinedforward.

As shown in FIG. 4, two of the supports 39 extend vertically from innersides of both upper and lower walls of the tubular portion 31 toward theother walls. The tips of the supports 39 are separated from each other.Recesses 39A recessed forward are formed in outer edge parts on rear endsides of the supports 39. As shown in FIG. 3, the front end of thehousing body 21 is fit into the recesses 39A.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock arm 40 is in the form of a leverlong in the front-rear direction as a whole. The lock arm 40 issupported by the two supports 39 and can be inclined and displaced withthe supports 39 substantially as a fulcrum. The lock arm 40 includes armportions 41, a releasing portion 42, the stoppers 44 and a lockingportion 45. The arm portions 41 are in the form of strips. Two of thearm portions 41 extend forward from inner end parts of the pair ofsupporting portions 39.

The releasing portion 42 functions to release the connection of thehousing 20 and the mating housing 61. The releasing portion 42 has ahome base shape (front part has a substantially rectangular shape andrear part is shaped to be gradually narrower toward a rear side) cut ina part (part from a rear end to a center). The tips of the arm portions41 are coupled to one side surface (left side surface) of the releasingportion 42. The releasing portion 42 is formed with a recess 43 cut fromthe rear end to the vicinity of the center on a vertically central side.The recess 43 is substantially square when viewed in the lateraldirection.

The arm portions 41 are formed with the stoppers 44 at positions behindthe releasing portion 42 in the front-rear direction. The stoppers 44function to stop the detecting member 50 in contact therewith in aproperly connected state of the housing 20 and the mating housing 61.The stoppers 44 are projecting pieces projecting rightward (toward thecovering wall 35) and are coupled integrally to the releasing portion 42at adjacent positions on a free end of the lock arm 40. Theconfiguration of the lock arm 40 is simplified by integrating thestoppers 44 and the releasing portion 42 in this way. Since the stoppers44 are coupled integrally to the releasing portion 42 on the free end ofthe lock arm 40, the free end can be prevented from being deflected anddeformed with the stoppers 44 held in contact with the covering wall 35as described later. Thus, the free end can be prevented from beingdeflected and deformed. The stoppers 44 are connected via the releasingportion 42. Thus, the releasing portion 42 functions as a beam betweenthe two stoppers 44 so that the rigidity of the lock arm 40 can beensured.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8 to 10, the locking portion 45 is continuouswith the respective arm portions 41 between the arm portions 41 and isprovided at the same position as the stoppers 44 in the front-reardirection. A front part 45A of the locking portion 45 is rounded. Oneside surface (right side surface) of the locking portion 45 is asubstantially horizontal flat surface (substantially parallel to thefront-rear direction). The other side surface (left side surface) of thelocking portion 45 extends along the other side surfaces (left sidesurfaces) of the arm portions 41 and is inclined to be higher toward thefront. A rear end part 45B of the locking portion 45 corresponds to theshape of a recess 54C of the detecting member 50 to be described later,has a triangular shape when viewed in the vertical direction, and has alateral width gradually narrowed toward the rear.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the detecting member 50 includes a flat plate51, a rear wall 52, outer locking arms 53, an inner locking arm 54,projections 55 and grooves 56. The detecting member 50 is made ofsynthetic resin and is configured to detect a connected state of thehousing 20 and the mating housing 61. The detecting member 50 isrestricted from moving from a standby position to a detection positionin a state where the housing 20 and the mating housing 61 are notconnected properly and can move to the detection position in theproperly connected state of the housing 20 and the mating housing 61.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the flat plate 51 is a substantially flatplate. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, two rails 57 are formed along thefront-rear direction on the bottom surface of the flat plate 51. Asshown in FIG. 8, the flat plate 51 is in contact with the side wall 32via the rails 57 in a state of the detecting member 50 assembled withthe lock holder 30. The rear wall 52 rises along the rear end of theflat plate 51. The rear wall 52 is substantially at a right angle toplate surfaces of the flat plates 51.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, two of the outer locking arms 53 extendforward from both upper and lower end parts of the front end of the flatplate 51. The outer locking arms 53 are strips and can be deflected anddeformed in the vertical direction. Hook-shaped locking portions 53A areformed on the tips of the outer locking arms 53. Each locking portion53A projects out (toward a side opposite to the other outer lockingportion 53) from the tip of the outer locking arm 53.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the inner locking arm 54 extends forward andleftward (toward a side opposite to a rising direction of the rear wallportion 52) from a vertically central location of the front end of theflat plate portion 51. The inner locking arm 54 can be deflected anddeformed in the lateral direction (direction perpendicular to the platesurfaces of the flat plate 51). A width of the inner locking arm 54 inthe vertical direction (facing direction of the outer locking arms 53)is constant from a base end toward a tip. The inner locking arm 54includes a first arm portion 54A and a locking portion 54B. The firstarm portion 54A is constituted by a rear end side of the inner lockingarm 54 and an extending direction thereof is inclined with respect tothe plate surfaces of the flat plate 51. The locking portion 54B is afront end of the inner locking arm 54, and an extending directionthereof is more inclined with respect to the plate surfaces of the flatplate 51 than the first arm portion 54A. The front surface of thelocking portion 54B is formed with the recess 54C recessed rearward. Therecess 54C corresponds to the shape of the rear end part 45B of thelocking portion 45, is recessed to have a triangular shape when viewedin the vertical direction, and has a lateral width gradually narrowedtoward the rear. A bottom surface 54D (see FIG. 8) of the inner lockingarm 54 is located to the left of the flat plate 51 and forms a steptogether with the flat plate 51.

The projections 55 are stopped in contact with the stoppers 44 with thehousing 20 and the mating housing 61 properly connected. Two of theprojections 55 project respectively on upper and lower sides of the baseend of the inner locking arm 54. The front surface of the projection 55is a flat surface perpendicular to the plate surfaces of the flat plate51. The right surface of the projection 55 is inclined with respect tothe front-rear direction to be connected to the right surface of theinner locking arm 54. The projection 55 is separated from the outerlocking arm 53. The groove 56 is recessed rearward with the projectingportion 55 and the outer locking arm 53 serving as side walls. The rearend of the groove 56 is curved when viewed in the lateral direction.

Next, a connecting operation of the connector 10 and the matingconnector 60 is described.

First, the detecting member 50 is arranged at the standby position. Asshown in FIG. 8, lateral movements of the detecting member 50 arerestricted by inserting the flat plate portion 51 between the side wall32 and the covering wall 35. The locking portions 53A can respectivelycontact with the protection walls 34 from inside, as shown in FIG. 11,to restrict vertical movements of the detecting member 50. Note that thetwo locking portions 53A are located between the first holdingprojections 37 and the second holding projections 38 by riding over thesecond holding projections 38 from behind to deflect and deform theouter locking arms 53 inwardly. Since the inner locking arm 54 isinserted between the two arm portions 41, vertical movements of thedetecting member 50 are restricted.

When the mating housing 61 enters the housing 20, the terminal fittingsT1 are inserted gradually into mating terminal fittings (so-calledfemale terminals) T2 accommodated in the mating housing 61, as shown inFIG. 8. A lock protrusion 62 is formed on the outer surface of themating housing 61. A rear end (end part on the side of the housing 20)62A of the lock protrusion 62 is inclined to be more outward toward therear. A front end (end part opposite to the housing 20) 62B of the lockprotrusion 62 is inclined slightly forward toward an outer side. Therear end of the lock protrusion 62 and the front part 45A of the lockingportion 45 come into contact and the locking portion 45 gradually rideson the lock protrusion 62. Then, the lock arm 40 obliquely deformsresiliently.

In such an incompletely connected state of the connectors (incompletelyconnected state where the connector housings are not properly connectedyet), if an attempt is made to move the detecting member 50 forward, therecess 54C is locked to the rear part 45B of the locking portion 45.Then, a locked state of the recess 54C and the rear part 45B of thelocking portion 45 is held, and the detecting member 50 cannot be movedforward from the standby position toward the detection position.

When the connectors reach a properly connected state as shown in FIG. 9,the mating terminal fittings T2 and the terminal fittings T1 areconnected properly. Further, the locking portion 45 rides over the lockprotrusion 62, the lock arm 40 resiliently returns, the rear end part45B of the locking portion 45 and the front end 62B of the lockprotrusion 62 are arranged to face each other in the front-reardirection, and the housings are locked in the properly connected state.In the properly connected state of the housings, the detecting member 50is allowed to move to the detection position.

Subsequently, the detecting member 50 is moved from the standby positionto the detection position. If the rear surface of the detecting member50 is pushed forward, the tip of the inner locking arm 54 butts againstthe rear end 62A of the lock protrusion 62. In this way, the tip of theinner locking arm 54 is displaced up by the inclination of the rear end62A of the lock protrusion 62 and slides forward in contact with theouter surface of the lock protrusion 62, as shown in FIG. 9. Then, theinner locking arm 54 passes over the lock protrusion 62 and the lockingportion 45 and resiliently returns downward.

If the rear surface of the detecting member 50 is pushed forward inmoving the detecting member 50 from the standby position to thedetection position, the locking portions 53A of the outer locking arms53 respectively butt against the rear ends of the first holdingprojections 37 from the state shown in FIG. 11. In this way, the outerlocking arms 53 are displaced in toward the other outer locking arms 53by the inclination of the rear ends of the first holding projections 37,and slide forward on the first holding projections 37. Then, as shown inFIG. 12, the outer locking arms 53 pass over the first holdingprojections 37 and resiliently return outward. The detecting member 50is restricted from moving forward and held at the detection position bythe projections 55 contacting the stoppers 44 from behind to be stoppedin contact with the stoppers 44.

As described above, the inner locking arm 54 rides over the lockprotrusion 62 and the locking portion 45, and the outer locking arms 53ride over the first holding projections 37. Thus, the detecting member50 reaches the detection position as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12. Duringthis time, a worker feels a strong resistance force and feels alightening response when the resistance force is released. The lockingportion 54B of the inner locking arm 54 and the front part 45A of thelocking portion 45 are arranged to face each other in the front-reardirection. Further, the bottom surface 54D of the inner locking arm 54and the locking portion 45 face each other in the lateral direction, andthe upper surface of the flat plate 51 of the inner locking arm 54 andthe lower surface of the covering wall 35 face each other in the lateraldirection. In this way, a rearward movement of the detecting member 50is restricted, and the connecting operation of the connectors iscompleted. Note that the state where the rearward movement of thedetecting member 50 is restricted can be released by strongly pullingthe detecting member 50 rearward in separating the connectors.

Next, an excessive deflection preventing structure for the lock arm 40is described.

In the state shown in FIG. 8, the releasing portion 42 is lifted anddisplaced in a direction of an arrow of FIG. 13 (deflecting direction ofthe lock arm 40). Then, the lock arm 40 is deflected and deformed out(rightward) with the supports 39 as a fulcrum. Then, as shown in FIG.13, the stoppers 44 of the lock arm 40 contact the front end 35A of thecovering wall 35 from inside. Outward (rightward) displacements of thestoppers 44 are restricted by the front end 35A of the covering wall 35.Thus, the lock arm 40 can be prevented from being deflected and deformedany further.

As described above, the connector 10 has a function of restricting amovement of the detecting member 50 from the detection position and afunction of restricting excessive deflection of the lock arm 40. Thus,these two functions need not be performed by separate configurations,and the connector 10 can be simplified in configuration.

The lock arm 40 includes the stoppers 44 configured to stop thedetecting member 50 in contact therewith in the properly connectedstate. In this way, the stoppers 44 can restrict movement of thedetecting member 50 from the detection position by stopping thedetecting member 50 in contact therewith. Further, the housing 20includes the covering wall 35 with which the stoppers 44 contact in thedeflecting direction of the lock arm 40. In this way, any furtherdeflection of the lock arm 40 can be prevented by contact of thestoppers 44 with the covering wall 35. As just described, the connector10 has the function of restricting movement of the detecting member 50from the detection position and the function of restricting excessivedeflection of the lock arm 40. Thus, these two functions need not beperformed by separate structures, and the connector 10 can be simplifiedin configuration.

Further, the lock arm 40 includes the releasing portion 42 configured torelease the connection of the housing 20 and the mating housing 61. Thestoppers 44 are integral to the releasing portion 42. In this way, thestoppers 44 and the releasing portion 42 are integrated so that the lockarm 40 can be simplified in configuration.

The stoppers 44 are integral to the releasing portion 42 on the free endside of the lock arm 40. Thus, the deflection and deformation of thefree end side can be prevented with the stoppers 44 held in contact withthe covering wall 35. Thus, excessive deflection of the lock arm 40 canbe prevented reliably.

Further, the lock arm 40 includes the two stoppers 44 and is connectedto the two stoppers 44 via the releasing portion 42. Thus, the releasingportion 42 functions as a beam between the stoppers 44 so that therigidity of the lock arm 40 can be ensured.

The invention is not limited to the above described and illustratedembodiment. For example, the following embodiments also are included inthe scope of the invention.

Although the stoppers 44 are integral to the releasing portion 42 at theadjacent positions in the above embodiment, the stoppers 44 may beseparated from the releasing portion 42 in the lock arm 40.

Although the stoppers 44 are integral to the releasing portion 42 on thefree end of the lock arm 40 in the above embodiment, the stoppers 44 maybe coupled at a location (e.g. location on a base end or location in alongitudinal center of the lock arm 40) other than the free end side.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   10 . . . connector-   20 . . . housing-   35 . . . covering wall (contact portion)-   40 . . . lock arm-   42 . . . releasing portion-   44 . . . stopper-   50 . . . detecting member-   60 . . . mating housing

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector, comprising: a housing (20)configured to be fit to hold a mating housing (60) by a resilientlydeflectable lock arm (40); and a detecting member (50) configured suchthat a movement from a standby position to a detection position isrestricted in a state where the housing (20) and the mating housing (60)are not connected properly and a movement to the detection position isallowed in a properly connected state of the housing (10) and the matinghousing (60); wherein: the lock arm (40) includes a stopper (44)configured to stop the detecting member (50) in contact therewith in theproperly connected state; and the housing (20) includes a contactportion (35), the stopper (44) coming into contact with the contactportion (35) in a deflecting direction of the lock arm (40).
 2. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein: the lock arm (40) includes a releasingportion (42) configured to release connection of the housing (20) andthe mating housing (60); and the stopper (44) is integral to thereleasing portion (42).
 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the stopper(44) is integral to the releasing portion (42) on a free end side of thelock arm (40).
 4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the stopper (44) isa first stopper (44) and the lock arm (40) further includes a secondstopper (44) and the lock arm (40) is connected to the stoppers (44) viathe releasing portion (42).